Page 6 of Tell Me You Love Me Again

We pulled up to the restaurant, and I found a parking spot that wasn’t too far from the front. After I parked, I shut the truck off so that I could get out and help Chiara out. Hand in hand, we walked inside and waited for the hostess to seat us. After the hostess sat us at or table in the far back, we both picked up the menu because the waiter would be back before we knew it to take our drink order. Once she came and took our drink order, we gave her our regular order as well and continued our conversation.

“So, Gabriel. You asked me about my week. How was yours?”

“It was pretty straight. Hauling shit back and forth gets boring, but it pays the bills. Me and my brother Gary plan on opening our own trucking company soon. That was our plan before I got locked up, so he put it on hold. I was just going to use the place as a front, but I went ahead and get my CDL too so that we could make runs together. You know, knock the shit out faster,” I explained.

“I understand. Are y’all close to having your own?”

“Probably within the next year.” We continued to have conversation until our food arrived.

That night, we became inseparable and were married two years later. It seemed like things with Chiara were so simple then. I don’t know what happened along the way, but I was determined to get my wife back.

I pulled up to Hastings Trucking and parked in the other owner’s spot next to Gary’s F-250. I greeted the receptionist and headed to the back where his office was held. I was about to knock and go inside until I heard moaning.

“This nigga,” I chuckled before going to my own office. I knew it was nobody but his wife, Shannon. She did spontaneous shit like that for him at work. Chi used to do the same shit, but I guess that spark was lost along the way somehow.

Thirty minutes had passed before Gary walked into my office with Shan in tow.

“Wassup, bro,” Gary spoke. I stood to give him a dap and pull Shan in for a hug.

“Wassup, sis. It’s nice seeing your face ’round here. I’m sick of looking at this ugly ass nigga all the time.”

“Where’s Chi?” she asked after returning the hug.

“More than likely, she’s with her sister. She ain’t fuckin’ with me right now,” I revealed.

“What did you do?” Shannon thought she was my big sister or some shit. She could have that though, because in a sense she was. My parents only had Gary and me. I was supposed to be a girl. That was the reason they named me Gabriel because, had I actually been a girl, my name would’ve been Gabrielle.

“Why did you automatically assume that I did some shit?” I frowned. “Maybe she’s just hanging with her sister,” I contested.

“Yeah, your mouth says that, but your face says otherwise. What’s wrong?” she asked. Taking a seat back behind my desk, I told Shannon and Gary what the problem was, or at least whatChiara’s complaint was. It sounded crazy saying the shit out loud, but it is what it is. I needed all the help I could get right now.

“As a woman, we need reassurance. She needs you to assure her you still love her…desire her. If you can’t make this trip. Suggest that the two of you take one when you can. In the meantime, do all of that over a nice dinner. Take her somewhere nice and y’all take that time to reconnect. When dinner is over, go home and give me a damn niece. Gabriella is lonely, damn it.” Since I didn’t have kids and Gary and Shannon have been married for six years, my four-year-old niece was named after me.

“I’ll try sis, that’s about all I can do right now.”

“That’s enough.” She got up and kissed Gary before he walked her out. When he came back into the office, he shut the door behind him and say back in his seat.

“I know you wanted this to be a surprise, but you might want to go ahead and tell her before shit gets out of control. It sounds like she thinks you’re cheating on her, and you don’t want those problems.” I heard what my brother was saying, but that would defeat the purpose of a surprise. Chiara just needed to trust that I wasn’t cheating on her like I trusted her. I would hate to have to find out otherwise and become a widower.

“Nah, it’ll ruin the surprise if I told her. She’s just being a spoiled brat, and that’s partly my fault, along with her bitch ass daddy. We’ll be straight.” I was trying to sound convincing, but right now, I wasn’t too sure.

Gary stayed in my office while we went over the schedule for the rest of the month. We were only home for a few days and had to go right back on the road. Right now, we only had two other drivers, with only one being local. Hopefully, by next year, that will change.

I wrapped up work at the office a little earlier than expected, so that gave me time to make my other stop before going home and, surprising Chiara with a date night, her ass wouldn’t forget.

It took about forty-five minutes to get to my next destination. When I pulled up, the construction crew was hard at work.

“Nice to see you today, Mr. Hastings,” the crew leader greeted.

“It’s looking good, man. Real good.” I walked around and observed the work that they had completed so far, and I couldn’t find one problem. I just hope that Chiara appreciated all my long hours and hard work once she sees it.

“Everything looks to be on track, and you will be able to have it inspected and decorated by Christmas,” he informed me.

“Good looking out, man. You don’t know how much hassle this surprise is causing me in my marriage. I almost dragged her out here and show her everything, but I’m positive that she will appreciate it.” He nodded and went back to work. I stayed for a few more minutes, surveying the grounds, making mental notes of what I wanted to do out here.

I hope this shit pays off.

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